More than half a century after the end of the war, efforts to repatriate and identify fallen heroes remain ongoing. The challenge of time, which increasingly blurs historical traces, is now being overcome thanks to cutting-edge breakthroughs in genetics, specifically through Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS-SNP) technology.
At the DNA Testing Center of the Institute of Biology (Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology), scientists view each bone sample not merely as a research object, but as a humanitarian trust. Despite high workload pressures, principles of objectivity and scientific validity are strictly upheld to ensure that every restored name is backed by indisputable evidence.
Conventional methods based on mitochondrial DNA, which have been used until now, face significant limitations with samples degraded over decades. However, the use of NGS-SNP technology has proven capable of increasing DNA extraction efficiency from 22% to over 80%. Trials at the Tra Linh Martyrs Cemetery recorded impressive identification success, achieving a 93% accuracy rate on samples previously considered difficult to process.
Nevertheless, experts emphasize that technology is only one aspect of this long struggle. Other challenges include tropical climate conditions that damage DNA structure, a lack of historical records, and limited reference data from distant relatives. Therefore, establishing an integrated national DNA database has become a crucial agenda to accelerate mass identification processes.
The Vietnamese Government, through the Academy of Science and Technology, is currently striving to strengthen laboratory capacity, including international collaborations such as with the International Commission on Missing Persons (ICMP) and ODA assistance. This strategic step is expected to increase annual testing capacity—which is currently limited—ensuring every hero can return to their family as the nation's highest form of tribute.
